Indians go batty for Aussie cricket captain

Australian Steve Waugh has a high profile in India for his charitable works

By Grant Holloway
CNN

SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh has signed one of the world's richest cricket bat sponsorships with Indian company MRF.

And despite MRF paying out a sum believed to be around $400,000 (Aust. $750,000) for a three-year deal to put their brand on his willow, Waugh still rates India as the opponents he most wants to beat.

In March India shattered a 16-test winning streak by the Australian cricket team and went on to win the home test series, making a series win there the only goal the current Australian team has not achieved.

The 36-year-old Waugh said Wednesday he wanted to help Australia defend its World Cup title and then take care of some "unfinished business" in India.

MRF, a manufacturer of rubber tyres and sporting goods, is a major supporter of Indian cricket and also sponsors the bat of the world's leading batsman India's Sachin Tendulkar.

The main thrust of the sponsorship will be to use Waugh's profile, in tandem with Tendulkar's, to promote MRF products, such as bats, in India and Australia.

Waugh is well-liked by many of India's millions of cricket fanatics and has a high profile for his charitable work, including his contributions to helping leprosy sufferers.

Waugh, who became Australian captain in February 1999, has 140 test caps and has scored 9,289 runs at an average of 51.60 per innings.